AWA! or IGA!


WHAT!!?  You’ve got to be kidding!  AWA! 

This is an acronym batted around by folks who live on the African continent.  AWA!  It stands for Africa Wins Again!  Which can mean anything from driving into a huge pothole and ruining your tire resulting in a three hour wait on the side of the road only to find out that the man who came to assist didn’t bring a replacement  -- oh well, you’ve already missed your meeting – AWA!  -----   or inviting a family over for a meal, having everything ready to go into the oven and bam!  the electricity goes off! – AWA!  Unless you have a gas stove!

So why AWA you ask?  Well, I’ll tell you.  If you are wondering why there have been no new blog posts for so long it is because we have been in Nairobi, not in South Sudan.  We flew to Nairobi on April 13 for a ten day hiatus. The main purpose was to clear our crate through customs.  We received information that the crate had reached the Port of Mombasa and our passports were needed.  Good – GREAT -- other things needed to be accomplished in Nairobi as well.  Here we are, two ticket changes later still waiting for passports to be returned so we can return to Rumbek and finish our assignment.  AWA!!

It is okay – we can see AWA in a different light – we can see it as IGA ----- no-no! not the grocery store!  
IGA —  If God Allows.    
Do you remember the passage in James 4:13-17? Verse 15 says, “Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’”  We are supposed to live our lives in the light of God’s Word, His Will and His Way.

Things have been accomplished.  Reports have been written, budgets and receipts have been submitted.  Jerry has been working on a South Sudan people group data base, Debbie had a tooth pulled ---- these along with a myriad of other tasks have been accomplished. 

God is good.  We didn’t realize how deep the color green could get!  Nairobi has received a thunder storm/shower every day that we have been here.  I know reality says this could be a problem; but it has been delightful for us.  The deep green and the sweet smell of moist grass, the beautiful plants, bushes and trees have been, for us, a wonderful escape from the harsh, dry, sun scorched environment of the last three months.  We have also had time to de-stress. We didn’t realize the stress we were living under.  This helps us understand how to help those who will come and plant their lives in the harsh environment that is South Sudan.      IGA!

Work Update:
The well project continues to move forward.  We should be back in Rumbek before the drilling begins – IGA.
We are looking forward to beginning oral storying classes at Abinajok  -- IGA